A/N: The song I keep imagining being played by 'Dalis and Jan is actually 'Round the House and Mind the Dresser'. Enjoy, tell me what you think. And yes, this is a continuation of the previous chapter.

We were drunker than sin. Kivan nodded and smiled as we all sort of made small talk, till the bar was empty of everyone except us. The innkeep scowled at me, but went to bed anyways. He knew me and my group. So it was Minsc, Kivan and I left. Oh, and Bjorrin. I was smiling, remembering old times. Minsc was talking to Bjorrin at length about...something. I forget what. Kivan was telling the story of the time we had to rescue the girl in the lighthouse. Well, not quite telling it. He kept reminding me of the little things.

"Remember how bad my arm swelled up after the worg bit it?" he'd say, and I'd laugh. He had been bitten, badly, on the forearm. But we had saved the girl. That night, he couldn't even move his fingers his arm was so swollen. The infection was just awful. But he didn't say a thing, just cleaned it every hour. Quayle and I looked after him. It was better by the time the ghasts attacked that one night, but it still hurt him. He did good, though. I shook my head and smiled at the memory.

"Tell me about the wineskin," he rasped to me.

The wineskin. A good memory, that.

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We were between the Umar Hills and Nalia's keep. It had been a long, hot day, and nothing had happened. We had pacified the slavers, we had leveled the bandits...so as the sun was setting, we pitched camp. I went to collect firewood, and by the time I got back, everyone was laughing. The stew was boiling, the loaf of bread was making its way around the small circle we had. Everyone was smiling. It had been a rough fight in the temple, and we were glad to put some miles between us and it.

Aerie was looking suspicious, eyes darting as everyone talked...but keeping quiet herself. She wasn't making eyes at me, which was strange. Jaheira and Mazzy were talking, Valygar and Jan were cleaning their weapons. I think it was damn near the only time Jan was quiet...when he cleaned his damn weapon. So, it was shaping up to be a pretty good night. I plunked myself down, dropped the wood beside me, and just watched. Dalis was just sort of making music, random wandering tunes. I don't remember why, but I said "I'd kill for a drink right now."

And Aerie giggled. Loudly.

We all turned to her, and in her hand was a wineskin. She giggled again.

"I...I picked this up f-f-for everyone. A c-celebration."

"What for, Aerie?" I asked.

"Well, we did r-r-right, didn't we? We stopped the k-killings."

I nodded. Jaheira's eyes narrowed.

"Have you ever had a drink before, Aerie?" she said, keeping her tone even. Aerie shook her head, blushing. Her golden locks flew everywhere. I grinned.

"Better hand that over here, then!" I snapped, and stood up, reaching. She squealed, and with a wild light in her eyes, she darted off into the woods. Everyone stood still a second, before Valygar commented.

"Uh, guys? She's gonna drink all the wine if no one stops her."

And in a heartbeat, we all tore off into the woods in pursuit, except for 'Dalis and Jan. Jan just shook his head, and 'Dalis took up his instruments, laughing.

"Run, my dove," he called out, "Get your well earned reward!"

He tossed Jan a bodhran drum, and Jan kept a quick beat as 'Dalis started on his pipe. I heard it in the background as we all tore after her, laughing. She was drinking as she ran, spilling the rich red wine down her front, laughing up a mouthful or two. Jaheira snatched it from her after a few seconds, but barely got it to her lips before Valygar bodychecked her out from under it. I tackled him to the ground about a heartbeat later, grabbing it for myself. I got up...and Mazzy tripped me right back down to the ground. I shook the cobwebs out from the fall, and saw her taking off on a tangent, laughing and drinking as music filled the air. Jaheira jumped over my prone body, chuckling.

"You must be faster on your feet, whelp!"

I cursed and started sprinting. I shoved Jaheira down with a yelp, dodged Valygar's attempt to take me down and jumped Mazzy. I fell to the ground again, and grabbed a gulp of the wine. It was sweet...very sweet. It was good and cheap and strong, and as I stumbled up again, Aerie grabbed it from me, and finished it. She rocked on her feet, and smiled before throwing it to Valygar. He grinned, trying to get a few drops out of it. We all got back to the fire, arms slung around one another and sweating like crazy. Just before we got to the edge of the light, Aerie stopped me with a hand on my chest, and threw her arms around my shoulders. Thin arms, strong arms, and pressed her lips to mine. She muffled my yelp of surprise and I tasted wine on her lips, on her tongue. She finished the kiss, and smiled widely. And then, off like a schoolgirl, she went to check on the food. She was happy and hopeful, and I just smiled to myself, rubbed my jawline, and enjoyed the taste of wine and Aerie.

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Kivan nodded along, and smiled as best he could. He was wistful, I think, having missed that. Maybe it reminded him of he and his wife. I don't know. I remembered with a smile, and I remembered her haunted expression as the last slaver's neck broke. She didn't enjoy it, but she was all wrapped around her revenge. She wanted me to come riding to the rescue for her again, for things to be like they were before. But then again, who was she? She was harder than the girl I traveled with. She was stronger, more vital...more vicious.

I poured four shots of bourbon, more or less the rest of the bottle. Kivan and I handed out the shots, and I raised mine in a toast.

"Absent friends."

There was a series of grunts in reply, and we took our hit. Looking around, we waved to one another. I started the long walk home through the dark by myself, shaking my head.

I missed Aerie more than I could say.